Stock-wagon.



No. 667,237. Patented Feb. 5, l90l. H. C. F. & C. A. LDPTIEN.

STDGK WAGON.

(Application filed May 26, 1900.

No llndel.)

1!. aztzazz' m, 6. 1/7. ja ma'ezv UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HANS CRIS FREDERICK LOPTIEN AND CARL AUGUST LOPTIEN, OF SYOAMORE, ILLINOIS.

STOCK-WAGON.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 667,237, dated February 5, 1901.

Application filed May 26 1900. Serial No. 18,121- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, HANS ORI's FREDER- ICK LOPTIEN and CARL AUGUST LOPTIEN, citizens of the United States, residing at Sycamore, in the county of De Kalb and State of Illinois,have invented a new and useful Stock- .Wagon, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to wagons, and more particularly to that class of vehicles used for the transportation of live stock; and it has for one object to produce a device of this kind which can be provided with springs.

Another object is to construct the front coupling in a strong and substantial manner and to provide the vehicle with a double perchreach the forward ends of which will form a portion of the head-block, with the circleplates secured beneath them.

With these objects in view our invention consists in the improved construction and novel arrangement of parts of a stock-wagon, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, in which the same reference-numerals indicate corresponding parts in each of the views in which they occur, Figure l is a'perspective view of a wagon made in accordance with our invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the head-block. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the same through the bolster, and Figs. 4, 5, 6, and 7 are perspective detail views of the bolster and parts of the headblock.

In constructing a wagon in accordance with our invention we provide the usual wheeled axles 1 and 2, the rear axle being preferably dropped or bent downward to throw the bottom of the bed 3 as near the ground as posgate 9 of the bed extends nearly to the top and is hinged at its lower end, so that the upper end may be turned down to rest upon the ground and form a gang-plank upon which the animal can walk into and out of the bed. A roller 10 may be journaled across the front of the bed underneath the seat, by means of which the animal may be drawn into the bed with a rope, if necessary. The rear end of the bed is supported upon elliptical springs 11, which are secured to the sides thereof in any desired manner and rest upon the rear axle adjacent to the wheels. Two semi-elliptical springs 12 are secured at their ends upon opposite sides of the front bolster l3, and thus give a strong and easy support for the animal within the bed.

The head-block for our improved Wagon consists of the circle-plates l4 and 15, which are located between the bolster 13 and the front axle 1. The lower face of the lower circleplate is provided with two parallel ribs 16, which fit down upon the front axle and form a very strong construction therewith. The upper surface of the plate is provided with a short cylindrical boss or projection 17, which fits into a corresponding opening 18 in the upper circle-plate. The upper face of the upper circle plate is provided with two diverging ribs 19, one upon each side of the opening. The inner walls of these ribs are vertical or at right angles to the surface of the plate, and the outer walls are inclined from the top outward. The forward ends of the reach or pole 20 of the wagon fit between the straight walls of the ribs, and the bolster is provided with two segmental pieces or braces 21, which rest upon the circle-plate outside of said ribs, the inner Walls of said braces being beveled or inclined to correspond with the inclination of the outer walls of the ribs. A bolt 22 is passed through the bolster, the forward end of the reach, the boss on the lower circle-plate, and the axle for holding all of said parts together.

The pole or reach of the wagon is formed from two pieces 23, the forward ends of which are joined together in the wedge-shaped piece that rests upon the upper circle-plate, and the rear portions diverge from each other and are joined at their rear ends to the rear axles,

at the ends of the dropped or depressed portions thereof. The intermediate portion of each of these pieces is curved downward a suitable distance to pass under the rear portion of the bed and permit of the front portion rising high enough to rest upon the circle-plate. By joining the forward ends of the pole together there is plenty of room for the front wheel in making short turns, and at the same time the diagonal location of the parts of the reach will add great strength to the running-gear of the wagon- In using our improved stock-wagon the rear end-gate is let down and the animal lead up the same into the body and secured therein and the end-gate raised into its vertical position and fastened by any ordinary means. If the animal should refuse to go up the gangplank formed by the end-gate, the free end of the rope by which it is being lead can be fastened to the roller or Windlass in front of the wagon and the animal be drawn into the bed by the rotation of the roller. If necessary, the stanchions at the front end of the bed may be opened and the animals head passed between them, when they can be again closed together at their upper ends and secured in anyordinary manner. After the animal has been loaded into the wagon the wagon can be driven with any desired amount of speed without injury or jar to the animal, because the unevenness of the road will be taken up or compensated for by the springs at the front and rear of the bed. In unloading the animal the end-gate is again lowered to form a gang-plank, when the animal can be quickly lead out of the bed and taken where desired.

Although we have shown what We consider the most desirable form of constructing our wagon, yet we reserve the right to make such changes and alterations therein as will come within the scope of our invention.

Having thus fully described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a stock-wagon, the combination, with wheeled axles, of a bed yieldingly supported thereon, the head-block of the wagon comprising two circle-plates, the top'and bottom faces of which are provided with ribs at substantially right angles to each other, the reach of the wagon being secured between the upper plate and the bolster, substantially as described.

2. In a stock-wagon, the combination, with wheeled axles, of a bed yieldingly supported thereon, the head-block of the wagon comprising two circle-plates, the top and bottom faces of which are provided with ribs respectively, the ribs upon iihellolwerl plate being" parallel with each other and adapted to engage with the axle and the ribs upon the upper plate diverging from each other, of a twopart reach, the forward end of which is substantially wedge-shaped and fits between said ribs, and the bolster of the wagon being provided with braces that rest upon the plate outside of said ribs, substantially as described.

3. In a stock-wagon, the combination, with wheeled axles, the rear axle being dropped, of a bed yieldingly supported thereon, the head-block of the wagon consisting of two ribbed circle-plates, the ribs upon the upper circle-plate diverging from each other and having vertical inner walls and flaring outer walls, diverging reach-pieces, the forward ends of which are joined together and fit between the ribs of the upper plate and the rear ends are secured to the rear axle at the ends of the dropped portion, the intermediate portion of said pieces being curved, and two braces secured to the bolster of the wagon, the inner faces of which are beveled to correspond with the flared walls of the ribs of the upper circle-plate, substantially as described.

HANS CRIS FREDERICK LOPTIEN. OARLAUGUST LOPTIEN.

Witnesses:

O. D. ROGERS, C. A. MONROE. 

